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Don Richtol

Don RichtolDon Richtol, beloved husband, brother, uncle and great-uncle, passed away on Jan. 19, 2015, at the age of 81. Services were held in California. Work colleagues he knew for over 20 years attended, a testament to his lasting friendships.

“Don is best remembered for his warmth, kindness and delightful sense of humor,” the family said. “When introducing himself, he told people that his last name was pronounced ‘Rich’ and ‘Tall,’ hastening to add that he was neither.

“He relished telling the story of how Walt Disney named Donald Duck after hearing Don’s friends yell those words at a baseball game when a foul ball nearly hit him.”

Mr. Richtol was born Sept. 11, 1933, in Denver to immigrants Lou and Miriam Richtol.

He attended Cheltenham Elementary School, Lake Junior High, and graduated from North High School in 1951.

Mr. Richtol studied accounting at DU and earned his MA in business, also from DU.

He then received his certificate in public accounting (CPA).

Mr. Richtol worked for local accounting firms in Denver and Los Angeles before joining the IRS in Los Angeles as a senior accountant.

He worked for the IRS until his retirement in 1996.

Mr. Richtol met Barbara Rosenbloom in California, and they were married on June 27, 1971. They enjoyed traveling together and spending time with family in California and Denver.

As an accountant, numbers were a big part of Mr. Richtol’s life. He could do complicated math in his head faster than most can using a calculator. He also had a remarkable memory for dates and events.

A sports fan, he remained loyal to Denver teams despite the many years he spent in California.

When Mr. Richtol’s health began to fail recently, Barbara’s lifelong love and devotion were his greatest comfort.

Don Richtol is survived by Barbara Richtol, his wife of 43 years; sister Helen Richtol Rotbart of Denver; and many nieces, nephews, one great-niece and one great-nephew.

Contributions may be made to the charity of choice.

Copyright © 2015 by the Intermountain Jewish News




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